Things to do: Best Bets for week

Best Bets for things to do this week on Cape Cod, such as the third annual Lutheran Lights Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

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By CAPE COD TIMES

capecodtimes.com

By CAPE COD TIMES

Posted Dec. 6, 2012 at 2:00 AM
Updated Dec 6, 2012 at 3:44 PM

By CAPE COD TIMES

Posted Dec. 6, 2012 at 2:00 AM
Updated Dec 6, 2012 at 3:44 PM

» Social News

Featured Event of the Week
The Scandinavian holiday season is steeped in traditions that include festive foods, religious ceremonies and beautiful pageantry. All will be part of the First Lutheran Church's third annual Lutheran Lights Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Featured at the West Barnstable church on both days will be a “Gifts of Hope Christmas Market,” a charitable alternative gift fair. There will also be a Scandinavian smorgasbord Saturday night and a “St. Lucia Pageant” on Sunday, followed by a Swedish meatball dinner.
The Christmas market, running 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, is what a press release calls a “give twice” program – gifts to those in need, both locally and globally, in the names of friends and family members.
Local beneficiaries include Angel House, A Baby Center, Bridge to Hope, CHAMP Homes, Habitat for Humanity, Hands of Hope, NOAH Center, Ruth House, Safe Harbor, Kids Care and the church itself. Each organization will have a menu of available gifts, such as, for Habitat for Humanity, two planks of flooring for $12 or $32 for a bucket of nails. Shoppers supporting The Baby Center, sponsored by the Cape Cod Council of Churches, could gift anything from a package of baby bottles for $5 to a new crib for $100.
Global organizations involved include the Heifer Project, Kids Care, Nyaka Aids Orphan Project, and Our Daily Bread.
Also featured at the market will be handcrafted breadboards, a bake sale featuring Finnish and Swedish coffee breads, quilted items, Koinonia specialty foods, American Girl Doll costumes and homemade candy.
The traditional Scandinavian smorgasbord will be held at 5 p.m., featuring a “coldbord” of cheese, breads and salads and an array of entrees and desserts.
The evening will end with a Lessons and Carols worship service at 6:30 p.m., and there will be Advent Worship services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday.
The weekend culminates with a “St. Lucia Pageant” at 4 p.m., a Swedish Celebration of Light that tells the legend of St. Lucia, a young woman who gave away her dowry to care for the poor. Highlighting the pageant will be a candlelit procession of Lucia and her attendants. The Swedish Meatball dinner will follow at 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec 7

· Opening night for the “Toys of Yesteryear” exhibit at the Briggs-McDermott House will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at 22 Sandwich Road, Bourne Village. The evening will feature costumed cooks baking on a vintage woodstove, free refreshments and a greenery and holiday arrangement sale. The exhibit will continue 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Greek Revival home will be decorated in Victorian Christmas finery and toys, dating from the mid-1800s to 1940 will be on display throughout. The exhibit is part of the “Christmas in Old Bourne Village” celebration. Information: 508-360-5459.

· The holiday concert “Joy to the World” will be held at 7 p.m. at the 1717 Meetinghouse, 2049 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable. The event will feature the West Parish of Barnstable Choir singing favorite seasonal medleys. The Parish Handbell Choir, directed by Donna Murphy, will play traditional holiday songs. Also featured will be soloist John Murelle, flutist Mariellen Sears and organist Donna Murphy. Suggested donation: $10.

· The Outer Cape Chorale will present “Sondheim!” as a benefit concert for the Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund at 7 p.m. in the Provincetown Town Hall, 260 Commercial St. Additional performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the same location and 3 p.m. Sunday at Nauset Regional Middle School, 70 Route 28, Orleans. The 130-voice chorus, led by Jon Arterton, will perform the songs of Stephen Sondheim. They will be accompanied by John Thomas on piano and Jeff Myers on percussion. Admission is free, though a goodwill offering will be collected.

Saturday, Nov. 8

· The Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association will hold its Holiday Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 108 Bray Farm Road, Yarmouth Port. The event will continue on Sunday. The barn will be filled with baked goods, wreaths, swags, centerpieces and crafts. Also on sale will be Taylor-Bray calendars, T-shirts and other items. Christmas trees will be for sale on the grounds, where visitors can also watch hearth-cooking demonstrations or take a hayride. Complimentary refreshments will be served. Information: 508-385-9407 or 508-737-0768.

· The Academy Playhouse will present “Belle and Friends Enchanted Wonderland” at 1 p.m. at Chatham Bars Inn on Shore Road. Children will enjoy an interactive holiday story with Belle, the Beast, and a visit from Santa. Also on the agenda will be crafts, caroling, cookies and cocoa, and photo opportunities. Academy of Performing Arts members Rebecca Banas and Anthony Teixeira will perform with Chris Morris on the piano.

· The Falmouth Chorale will present a “Christmas Across the Channel” concert at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m and again on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Sunday performance will be followed by a festive holiday reception. John Yankee will direct the Chorale, the a cappella Chamber Chorale, a string quartet from New England Conservatory and the Cape Cod Children's Chorus for the show. The program will feature carols from both the British and French traditions. The central work will be “A Ceremony of Carols” featuring harpist Sandra Bittermann and soloist Jodie Edwards. The program will conclude with a singalong of carols from both sides of the English Channel. Tickets: $25 in advance, $20 at door, $5 for students with ID. Information: www.falmouthchorale.org or 774-392-2383

· The SRD Gallery will host a reception and book-signing for Pamela Chatterton-Purdy and David A. Purdy, authors of “Icons of the Civil Rights Movement” from 4 to 6 p.m. at 708 Route 134, rear garden entrance, South Dennis. This book is a collaboration of fine art and narrative that covers one of the most pivotal eras of American history. Refreshments will be served. Information: 508-360-4302.

Wednesday, Dec. 12

· The ninth annual “NOAH Telethon” will be held 4 to 9 p.m. at Cape Cod Community Media Center, 17 Shad Hole Road, Dennisport and shown live on community-access stations 13 and 99 and at www.capemedia.org. The event will include entertainers and celebrity host Mindy Todd of WCAI. Proceeds benefit the NOAH Shelter in Hyannis. Information: www.haconcapecod.org.